Comments and recommendations for books for reading to children, particularly books on the bible, history and good fiction

Friday, November 02, 2012

The Value of Poetry and Memorization

Hunter Baker, one of my colleagues here at Union University, recently posted a helpful piece on the value of poetry and memorization.He reflects on the benefit his father gained from an education which focused on these things in contrast to the education Hunter and most of us more recently received which abandoned poetry and memorization.

Here is an excerpt:

It is interesting to read about education in the 19th century. One
encounters a former emphasis on memorization and recitation. I suppose
that method is considered inadequate now and we have moved well past it.
I can’t help but think, though, that it is a loss that children no
longer know what it means to embed bits of verse and wisdom into one’s
mind....

These are materials which help a person to grow strong and to endure
life’s difficulties. I regret that we no longer build with them. We
are replacing stone with vinyl.

This is helpful and challenging to me as we work to educate our own children. I pass it on to be of help to you.
Read the whole thing here.